Tables Created by BLS - US Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Employment
and Wages, 2010
October 2011
Bulletin 2769
O ccupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
Occupational Employment
and Wages, 2010
U.S. Department of Labor
Hilda L. Solis, Secretary
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Keith Hall, Commissioner
October 2011
Bulletin 2769
iii
Preface
This chartbook, Occupational Employment
and Wages, 2010, is a product of the
Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)
program of the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS). The OES program produces
employment and wage estimates for nearly
800 occupations by geographic area and
industry.
For every occupation, the OES program has data on
the total U.S. employment and the distribution of wages,
including the mean wage and the 10th, 25th, 50th
(median), 75th, and 90th percentiles. Occupational data
for geographic areas include employment and wages for
each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local area data
are available for 380 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs),
34 metropolitan divisions within 11 of the largest MSAs,
and 174 nonmetropolitan areas. National industry-specific
estimates are available by industry sector and for 334
industries.
The OES survey is a cooperative effort between BLS and
the state workforce agencies. Employment and wage
data for nearly 800 occupations were collected from a
sample of 1.2 million business establishments, employing
more than 80 million workers, in 6 semiannual panels
iv
between November 2007 and May 2010. Wage data
for all establishments were updated to the May 2010
reference period, and employment data were updated
to the average of the November 2009 and the May 2010
reference periods. Information on OES sampling and
estimation methodology is provided in the survey methods
and reliability statement at www.bls.gov/oes/current/
methods_statement.pdf.
Data users can create customized tables using the OES
database search tool, or download complete OES data
in zipped Microsoft Excel format from www.bls.gov/oes/
oes_dl.htm. Material in this publication is in the public
domain and, with appropriate citation, may be reproduced
without permission. Questions about OES data can be
directed to the information phone line at (202) 691-6569 or
sent to [email protected].
v
Acknowledgments
The information in this chart book is possible through the
cooperation of more than a million business establishments
that provide information on their workers to their state
workforce agency and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS). State workforce agencies within each state collect
and verify almost all data provided. BLS selects the
sample, produces the estimates, and provides technical
procedures and financial support to the states. BLS
also collects a small portion of the data from employers.
BLS produced this chartbook with contributions from
Claudia Calderón, Benjamin Cover, Swati Patel, Laurie
Salmon, George Stamas, and Audrey Watson. Cover art,
typesetting, and layout were performed by Bruce Boyd and
editorial services were provided by Maureen Soyars.
vi
vii
Overview
Page
Contents
iv
Preface
vi
Acknowledgments
x
Organization of charts and applications of OES data
xi
OES survey coverage, scope, and concept definitions
2
Figure 1
Employment and percent of total employment for the largest and smallest occupational groups, May 2010
3
Figure 2
Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying occupational groups, May 2010
4
Figure 3
Distribution of private and public sector employment by selected occupational group, May 2010
6
Figure 4
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in the private sector, May 2010
7
Figure 5
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in the public sector, May 2010
8
Figure 6
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in retail trade, May 2010
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Page
12
Figure 7
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest STEM occupations, May 2010
13
Figure 8
Industry employment for biomedical engineers, May 2010
14
Figure 9
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in scientific research and development services, May 2010
15
Figure 10 Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in communications equipment manufacturing, May 2010
16
Figure 11 Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying life and physical science occupations, May 2010
17
Figure 12 Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying architecture and engineering occupations, May 2010
18
Figure 13 Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of biochemists and biophysicists, May 2010
19
Figure 14 Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of mechanical engineers, May 2010
20
Figure 15 STEM occupations with the highest location quotients in Framingham, MA, May 2010
Page
viii
Healthcare
24
Figure 16 Wages for selected health assistants, May 2010
25
Figure 17 Wages for selected health aides, May 2010
26
Figure 18 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in general medical and surgical hospitals, May 2010
Page
27
Figure 19 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in the medical and diagnostic laboratories industry, May 2010
28
Figure 20 Employment by occupational group in outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, May 2010
29
Figure 21 Employment by occupational group in residential mental health and substance abuse facilities, May 2010
30
Figure 22 Employment of selected healthcare workers in non-healthcare related industries, May 2010
31
Figure 23 Location quotient of medical transcriptionists, by area, May 2010
Page
Contents
Healthcare
Construction
34
Figure 24 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest construction occupations, May 2010
35
Figure 25 Construction occupations with the highest mean wages, May 2010
36
Figure 26 Employment of the largest occupations in the building construction industry, May 2010
37
Figure 27 Mean hourly wages of the largest occupations in the building construction industry, May 2010
38
Figure 28 Construction occupations with the largest percent decrease in employment between May 2006 and May 2010
39
Figure 29 Construction occupations with an increase in employment between May 2006 and May 2010
40
Figure 30 States with the largest percent decrease in employment of construction occupations from May 2006 to May 2010
41
Figure 31 States with an increase in employment of construction occupations from May 2006 to May 2010
42
Figure 32 Location quotients for construction occupations in Pascagoula, MS, May 2010
43
Figure 33 Construction occupations in the San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA, metropolitan division with mean wages
Page
at least 55 percent higher than average, May 2010
Manufacturing
46
Figure 34 Employment and annual mean wages for the 10 largest occupations in manufacturing, May 2010
47
Figure 35 Highest paying production occupations in manufacturing, May 2010
48
Figure 36 Location quotient of team assemblers, by state, May 2010
49
Figure 37 Annual mean wage of team assemblers, by state, May 2010
50
Figure 38 Occupations with the largest location quotients in Elkhart-Goshen, IN, May 2010
52
Figure 39 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in textile mills, May 2010
53
Figure 40 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in chemical manufacturing, May 2010
ix
Organization
of charts and
applications
of OES data
The presentation of figures in this
chartbook is intended to demonstrate
a variety of applications of OES
data. Figures are organized into
five sections: the first focuses on
a general overview of OES data,
the others highlight occupational,
geographic, and industry topics in jobs
related to construction, healthcare,
manufacturing, and STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and
mathematics). The following are
some examples of useful applications
of OES data:
Detailed occupational data can be used by jobseekers
or employers to study wages for workers in certain
occupations and to assess wage variation within and
across occupations. Wage variation within an occupation
can result from several factors, including industry,
geographic location, or a worker’s individual experience
or qualifications. Useful data for jobseekers include
information on the industries or geographic areas that have
the highest employment or the highest average wages
for an occupation. Career and guidance counselors can
use OES data to examine information on the possible
occupational choices of their clients.
Industry-specific occupational data can be used by human
resources professionals in salary negotiations or to ensure
that their wages are competitive with those of other
businesses in their area or industry. Information on the
types of jobs within an industry can be used to compare
average staffing patterns with the staffing pattern of one’s
own company. Occupational employment by industry may
be useful in assessing the impact of shifts in technology and
other macroeconomic trends on the types of jobs available.
BLS and state government employment projections
programs use OES data as an input to their employment
projections, which can be used to predict training and
education demands.
Information about geographic areas can be used to assess
labor market features of a particular area. OES state-level
x
data can be used to make assessments about the diversity
of a state’s economy or to make comparisons among
states. The occupational composition of employment can
provide clues to how a state or regional economy can hold
up in adverse conditions that affect a certain sector of the
economy. Differences in both occupational composition
and occupational wage rates also help explain differences
in average wages across states. For example, states with
high average wages may have larger employment shares
of high-paying occupations, higher wages within each
occupation, or some combination of both factors.
Like state data, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area data
can be used to study the diversity of local area economies.
Businesses can use data to see whether it might be
beneficial to relocate to a particular area. OES wage data
can be used to compare wages across alternative areas
as part of an analysis of labor costs. OES occupational
employment data may indicate whether workers are
available in occupations that the business will need. For
example, businesses that require computer specialists or
skilled production workers may want to identify areas that
have high employment in these occupations.
OES survey
coverage, scope,
and concept
definitions
The OES survey covers all full- and
part-time wage and salary workers in
nonfarm industries. The survey does
not include the self-employed, owners
and partners in unincorporated firms,
workers in private households, or
unpaid family workers.
An occupation is a set of activities or tasks that employees are
paid to perform. Employees who perform essentially the same
tasks are in the same occupation, whether or not they are in
the same industry. Workers who may be classified in more than
one occupation are classified in the occupation that requires the
highest level of skill. If there is no measurable difference in skill
requirements, workers are included in the occupation in which
they spend the most time. Most occupations are classified by
the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system.
An industry is a group of establishments that have similar
production processes or provide similar services. For example,
all establishments that manufacture automobiles are in the same
industry. A given industry, or even a particular establishment
in that industry, might have employees in many different
occupations. The North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS) groups similar establishments into industries.
The employment shown is the average employment for
the most recent May and November (in this chartbook,
May 2010 and November 2009). Employment is defined
as the number of workers who can be classified as full- or
part-time employees, including workers on paid vacations
or other types of paid leave; workers on unpaid short-term
absences; salaried officers, executives, and staff members
of incorporated firms; employees temporarily assigned to
other units; and employees whose reporting unit is their
permanent duty station, regardless of whether that unit
prepares their paycheck.
Wages for the OES survey are straight-time gross pay,
exclusive of premium pay. Included are base rate; costof-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty
pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production
bonuses; and tips. Excluded are back pay, jury duty pay,
overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary
benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Respondents are asked to report the number of employees
paid within specific wage intervals, regardless of whether
the employees work part time or full time. The responding
establishment can reference either the hourly or the annual
rate for full-time workers but are instructed to report the
hourly rate for part-time workers. Intervals are defined both
as hourly rates and the corresponding annual rates, where
the annual rate for an occupation is calculated by multiplying
the hourly wage rate by a typical work year of 2,080 hours.
Geographic areas are defined by the Office of Management
and Budget. Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands are also surveyed; their data are not included in
this publication, but are published on the OES website.
The nationwide response rate for the May 2010 survey was
78.2 percent based on establishments and 74.4 percent
based on employment. More information on sampling
and estimation methodology can be found in the survey
methods and reliability statement on website at www.bls.
gov/oes/current/methods_statement.pdf.
xi
xii
O ccupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
Overview
1
OVERVIEW
Office and administrative support occupations made up more than one out of every six jobs
in the United States.
Figure 1
z Office and administrative support
was the largest occupational group
in the United States, making up 17
percent of employment. Three of
the 10 largest occupations were in
this group: general office clerks;
customer service representatives;
and secretaries and administrative
assistants, except legal, medical,
and executive. Sales and related
occupations was the second largest
occupational group, and included the
two largest individual occupations,
retail salespersons and cashiers.
Employment and percent of total employment for the largest
and smallest occupational groups, May 2010
Occupational group
Office and administrative
support
10.6
Sales and related
Food preparation and
serving related
6.7
Education, training, and
library
6.7
Production
6.5
Protective service
2.5
Architecture and
engineering
z Four of the six smallest
occupational groups had annual
mean wages above the U.S. alloccupations average of $44,410;
all of the largest occupational
groups, except the education,
training, and library group, had
below-average wages.
Percent of total
employment
8.7
Transportation and material
moving
z The smallest occupational groups
each made up 3 percent or less
of U.S. employment. Several of
these groups consisted primarily of
occupations requiring postsecondary
education, such as architects, social
workers, and scientists.
2
16.9
1.8
Community and social
service
1.5
Arts, design, entertainment,
sports, and media
1.4
Life, physical, and social
science
0.8
Legal
0.8
0
 Largest occupational groups
 Smallest occupational groups
5
10
15
20
Employment (millions)
Excludes farming, fishing, and forestry occupations because OES does not cover the majority of the agricultural sector.

25
OVERVIEW
The average wage for the highest paying occupational group was nearly five
times that of the lowest paying group.
Figure 2
z Annual mean wages by
occupational group ranged from
$21,240 for food preparation
and serving related occupations
to $105,440 for management
occupations. Nearly every
management occupation had an
average wage above the U.S. alloccupations mean of $44,410, while
nearly all food preparation and
serving related occupations had
an annual mean wage of less than
$25,000.
z Although healthcare practitioners
and technical occupations included
some of the highest paying
individual occupations, this group
also included occupations with
more moderate wages, such as
dietetic technicians ($28,820).
z Among the low-paying
occupational groups, transportation
and material moving had
the highest paying individual
occupations, including air traffic
controllers ($110,280). However, the
largest occupation in this group—
laborers and hand freight, stock,
and material movers—had an
average wage of $25,710.
Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying
occupational groups, May 2010
Occupational group
$105,440
Management
Legal
$96,940
Computer and mathematical
$77,230
Architecture and engineering
$75,550
Healthcare practitioners and
technical
$71,280
Business and financial
operations
$67,690
$44,410
U.S. all-occupations mean
Transportation and material
moving
$32,660
Healthcare support
$26,920
Building and grounds cleaning
and maintenance
$25,300
 Highest paying groups
Personal care and service
$24,590
 U.S. all-occupations mean
Farming, fishing, and forestry
$24,330
Food preparation and serving
related
 Lowest paying groups
$21,240
$0
$25,000
$50,000
$75,000
$100,000
$125,000
Annual mean wage
3
OVERVIEW
The types of jobs found in the private sector were different from those found in the public sector.
Figure 3
z Occupational groups with belowaverage wages made up more
than two-thirds of private sector
employment, but less than onethird of public sector employment.
z Sales and related occupations
was the second-largest
occupational group in the private
sector, but it was one of the
smallest occupational groups in the
public sector. The private sector
also had higher employment shares
of most other occupational groups
that had below-average wages,
including food preparation and
serving related occupations and
production occupations.
z Education, training, and library
was the largest occupational
group in the public sector,
making up 30 percent of public
sector employment, but less
than 2 percent of private sector
employment.
Distribution of private and public sector employment by
selected occupational group, May 2010
Percent of sector
employment
100
90
80
70
 Life, physical, and social science
60
 Community and social service
 Education, training, and library
50
 Healthcare support
40
 Protective service
 Food preparation and serving related
30
 Sales and related
 Office and administrative support
20
 Production
 Transportation and material moving
10
0
4
 Other
Private
Public
Oc cupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
5
OVERVIEW
Ten occupations made up nearly a quarter of private sector employment.
Figure 4
z Retail salespersons and cashiers
were the two largest private sector
occupations, making up about 7
percent of private sector employment.
z Ninety-four percent of
employment in the 10 occupations
shown in figure 4 was in the private
sector. Among the individual
occupations shown, private sector
employment ranged from 79 percent
of general office clerks to nearly 100
percent of retail salespersons and
waiters and waitresses.
z All of the 10 largest private
sector occupations also were
among the 10 largest occupations
overall, except for stock clerks
and order fillers and general and
operations managers, which
were the 11th and 12th largest
occupations overall.
z Most of the largest private sector
occupations were relatively low
paying. Of the 10 largest private
sector occupations, only general
and operations managers and
registered nurses had annual
mean wages above the U.S. alloccupations average of $44,410.
6
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest
occupations in the private sector, May 2010
Occupation
$24,990
Retail salespersons
Cashiers
$19,710
Combined food preparation and
serving workers, including fast food
Annual
mean
wage
$18,400
Waiters and waitresses
$20,790
Office clerks, general
$27,790
Registered nurses
$67,870
Customer service
representatives
$32,720
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers, hand
$25,600
$23,520
Stock clerks and order fillers
General and operations
managers
$114,430
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
Private sector employment (thousands)
4,000
5,000
OVERVIEW
Different types of teachers and teacher assistants made up 5 of the 10 largest
public sector occupations.
Figure 5
z Teacher assistants and
elementary, secondary, and middle
school teachers, except special and
career/technical education made
up about 18 percent of public sector
employment. These occupations were
found primarily in local government,
where they made up over one-quarter
of total employment.
z Police and sheriff’s patrol
officers, general office clerks, and
janitors were among the largest
occupations in both state and local
government, and registered nurses
was among the largest occupations
at all levels of government.
z In addition to the occupations
shown in the chart, the largest
occupations in local government
included firefighters and school or
special client bus drivers. Correctional
officers was the largest individual
occupation in state government. Four
occupations specific to the U.S. Postal
Service made up about 21 percent
of federal government employment;
compliance officers and management
analysts also were among the largest
federal government occupations.
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest
occupations in the public sector, May 2010
Occupation
Elementary school teachers,
except special education
$55,350
$25,330
Teacher assistants
Secondary school teachers, except
special and career/technical
education
Annual
mean
wage
$56,600
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
$55,670
Middle school teachers, except
special and career/technical
education
$55,510
Office clerks, general
$25,990
Teachers and instructors, all other
$37,220
Janitors and cleaners, except
maids and housekeeping cleaners
$28,930
Secretaries and administrative
assistants, except legal,
medical, and executive
$34,320
Registered nurses
$67,040
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
Public sector employment (thousands)
7
OVERVIEW
Four occupations made up over 60 percent of retail trade employment.
Figure 6
z Jobs in retail trade businesses
accounted for nearly 12 percent
of U.S. jobs, making it one of
the largest industry sectors,
along with healthcare and social
assistance, educational services,
manufacturing, and accommodation
and food services.
z More than 60 percent of
retail trade jobs were in just four
occupations: retail salespersons,
cashiers, stock clerks and order
fillers, and first-line supervisors of
retail sales workers.
z All of the 10 largest retail
trade occupations had annual
mean wages below the U.S. alloccupations average of $44,410.
The high share of lower paying jobs
in retail trade helped account for
this sector’s relatively low overall
average wage of $28,980.
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest
occupations in retail trade, May 2010
Occupation
$19,780
Cashiers
Stock clerks and
order fillers
Laborers and freight,
stock, and material
movers, hand
Annual
mean
wage
$21,670
First-line supervisors of
retail sales workers
$39,580
$22,350
Automotive service
technicians and
mechanics
$38,960
Pharmacy technicians
$27,800
Customer service
representatives
$26,350
Packers and
packagers, hand
$19,580
Combined food preparation
and serving workers,
including fast food
$20,940
0.0
8
$24,800
Retail salespersons
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
Employment (millions)
3.0
3.5
4.0
Oc cupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
9
10
O ccupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
STEM
(science, technology,
engineering, and
mathematics)
STEM occupations are technical jobs in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics. Although many possible definitions
exist, the STEM group is defined here to include computer and
mathematical, architecture and engineering, and life and physical
science occupations, as well as managerial and postsecondary
teaching occupations related to these functional areas, and sales
occupations requiring scientific or technical knowledge at the
postsecondary level. For more information on STEM occupations,
see “Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
occupations: a visual essay” in the May 2011 issue of Monthly
Labor Review, available online at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2011/05/
art1full.pdf.
11
STEM
Most of the largest STEM occupations were related to computers.
Figure 7
z Eight of the 10 largest STEM
occupations were related to
computers and information
technology, including computer
support specialists, applications
software developers, and computer
systems analysts.
z Each of the 10 largest STEM
occupations had employment of
between 200,000 and 600,000. By
comparison, the largest occupation
overall, retail salespersons, had
employment of nearly 4.2 million—
more than the 10 largest STEM
occupations combined.
z At the other end of the spectrum,
the smallest STEM occupations
included astronomers, with
employment of 1,840; animal
scientists (2,440); and agricultural
engineers (2,520).
z STEM occupations were typically
high paying. All of the 10 largest
STEM occupations had annual
mean wages above the U.S. alloccupations mean of $44,410. The
largest STEM occupation shown,
computer support specialists, was
also the lowest paying, with an
annual mean wage of $49,930.
12
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest
STEM occupations, May 2010
Occupation
$49,930
Computer support specialists
Software developers, applications
$90,410
Computer systems analysts
$81,250
Sales representatives, wholesale
and manufacturing, technical and
scientific products
$84,360
Software developers, systems
software
$97,960
Computer programmers
$74,900
Network and computer systems
administrators
$72,200
Computer and information
systems managers
Annual
mean
wage
$123,280
$82,280
Civil engineers
Information security analysts,
web developers, and computer
network architects
$79,370
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
Employment
400,000
500,000
600,000
STEM
Nearly half of the 15,280 biomedical engineers in the United States were
employed in three manufacturing industries.
Figure 8
z Twenty-five percent of
employment was in medical
equipment and supplies
manufacturing, and an additional
15 percent was in pharmaceutical
and medicine manufacturing.
Industry employment for biomedical engineers, May 2010
 Medical equipment and
supplies manufacturing
z The average wage for
biomedical engineers in May 2010
was $84,780.
z Out of the six major
industries that employed
biomedical engineers, two of the
industries—scientific research
and development services
and navigational, measuring,
electromedical, and control
instruments manufacturing—had
above-average wages for the
occupation, while the remaining
four had below-average wages.
19%
 Pharmaceutical and
medicine manufacturing
24%
 Navigational, measuring,
electromedical, and control
instruments manufacturing
 Scientific research and
development services
7%
 Colleges, universities, and
professional schools
 General medical and
surgical hospitals
9%
15%
19%
 All other industries
7%
13
STEM
Nearly two out of every five medical scientists were employed in scientific research and
development services.
Figure 9
z Medical scientists, except
epidemiologists, was the largest
occupation in scientific research
and development services, making
up about 6 percent of industry
employment. In contrast, this
occupation made up less than 0.1
percent of overall employment.
Thirty-seven percent of medical
scientists were employed in the
scientific research and development
services industry.
z Other large STEM occupations
in this industry included a mix of
computer-related occupations, such
as software developers; engineering
occupations, such as mechanical
engineers; and life and physical
science occupations, such as
chemists and biological technicians.
z The average wage in scientific
research and development services
was $81,350, reflecting both the
high concentration of high-paying
occupations in this industry and
above-average wages for specific
occupations. This industry had
higher-than-average wages for each
of the individual occupations in the
chart, including those that were not
STEM occupations.
14
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest
occupations in scientific research and
development services, May 2010
Occupation
Medical scientists, except
epidemiologists
$44,760
Biological technicians
$44,760
Software developers, systems
software
Annual
mean
wage
$101,960
Executive secretaries and
executive administrative
assistants
$53,300
Business operations specialists,
all other
$78,280
Chemists
$81,490
Mechanical engineers
$90,590
General and operations
managers
$159,960
Software developers,
applications
 STEM occupations
$92,890
Biochemists and biophysicists
 Non-STEM occupations
$90,810
0
10,000
20,000
Employment
30,000
40,000
STEM
STEM occupations were among the largest occupations in communications
equipment manufacturing.
Figure 10
z The largest STEM occupations
in communications equipment
manufacturing were related
to electronics or information
technology and included such
occupations as systems software
developers and electrical engineers.
The largest occupations in this
industry also included general and
operations managers and several
production occupations.
z The six STEM occupations
shown in figure 10 made up
about 21 percent of employment
in communications equipment
manufacturing. However, because
of its low overall employment,
communications equipment
manufacturing accounted for a
relatively low share of jobs in these
occupations. For example, only
1.4 percent of systems software
developers were employed in this
industry.
z Although wages among the
largest individual occupations
varied widely, communications
equipment manufacturing was a
high-paying industry overall, with
an annual mean wage of $68,900
across all occupations.
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest
occupations in communications equipment
manufacturing, May 2010
Occupation
Electrical and electronic
equipment assemblers
$31,050
Software developers, systems
software
$94,650
Electrical engineers
$87,090
Electrical and electronics
engineering technicians
$52,730
Electronics engineers, except
computer
$94,070
Annual
mean
wage
$29,330
Team assemblers
Architectural and engineering
managers
$139,430
Inspectors, testers, sorters,
samplers, and weighers
$37,060
General and operations
managers
$146,710
Software developers,
applications
 STEM occupations
 Non-STEM occupations
$95,420
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
Employment
8,000
10,000
12,000
15
STEM
The highest paying life and physical science occupations had mean wages
more than double the U.S. average.
Figure 11
z Twenty-five out of 30 life and
physical science occupations had
mean wages significantly above the
U.S. all-occupations average.
z The highest paying life and
physical science occupations
included physicists, with an
annual mean wage of $112,020;
geoscientists ($93,380); and
astronomers ($93,340). These
occupations typically required
postsecondary education ranging
from a bachelor’s degree to a
doctoral degree.
z Technician occupations tended
to be lower paying. The lowest
paying life and physical science
occupations included chemical
technicians, biological technicians,
forest and conservation technicians,
and agricultural and food science
technicians, all of which had mean
wages similar to or below the U.S.
average.
Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying life
and physical science occupations, May 2010
Occupation
$112,020
Physicists
Physical scientists, all other
$95,780
Geoscientists, except
hydrologists and geographers
$93,380
Astronomers
$93,340
Atmospheric and space
scientists
$88,010
Medical scientists, except
epidemiologists
$86,710
Life, physical, and social
science technicians, all other
$45,980
Environmental science and
protection technicians, inc. health
$44,440
U.S. all-occupations mean
$44,410
Chemical technicians
$44,200
Biological technicians
 Highest paying occupations
$41,740
Forest and conservation
technicians
 Lowest paying occupations
$36,860
Agricultural and food science
technicians
 U.S. all-occupations mean
$35,140
$0
16
Annual
mean
wage
$20,000
$40,000
$60,000
Annual mean wage
$80,000
$100,000
$120,000
STEM
Only one architecture and engineering occupation had below-average wages.
Figure 12
z Surveying and mapping
technicians was the only
architecture and engineering
occupation with a mean wage
below the U.S. all-occupations
average. More than half of
architecture and engineering
occupations had annual mean
wages of $75,000 or more.
z The highest paying architecture
and engineering occupations
included petroleum engineers,
computer hardware engineers, and
nuclear engineers, all with annual
mean wages of over $100,000. A
bachelor’s degree was the most
common level of education for
these occupations.
z In addition to surveying and
mapping technicians, the lowest
paying architecture and engineering
occupations included several
drafter and technician occupations,
such as environmental engineering
technicians, civil engineering
technicians, and architecture
and civil drafters. Workers in
these occupations typically had a
postsecondary vocational award or
an associate’s degree.
Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying
architecture and engineering occupations, May 2010
Occupation
$127,970
Petroleum engineers
Computer hardware engineers
$101,600
Nuclear engineers
$101,500
$99,000
Aerospace engineers
$94,590
Chemical engineers
Electronics engineers, except
computer
$92,730
Industrial engineering
technicians
$50,540
Architectural and civil drafters
$48,740
Drafters, all other
$48,190
Civil engineering technicians
$47,940
Environmental engineering
technicians
 Highest paying occupations
$46,820
 Lowest paying occupations
 U.S. all-occupations mean
$44,410
U.S. all-occupations mean
Surveying and mapping
technicians
$40,370
$0
$20,000
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
Annual mean wage
$100,000
$120,000
$140,000
17
STEM
The employment share of biochemists and biophysicists in Durham, NC,
was nearly 10 times the U.S. average.
Figure 13
z Biochemists and biophysicists
had a location quotient of 9 in
Framingham, MA, and nearly
10 in Durham, NC. Location
quotients represent the ratio of
an occupation’s share of area
employment relative to its share
of national employment; a location
quotient greater than one indicates
that the occupation makes up
an above-average share of local
employment.
18
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of
biochemists and biophysicists, May 2010
Location quotient
10.0
Durham, NC
9.5
Framingham, MA NECTA Division
9.0
z Even in areas with high
location quotients, this occupation
made up a relatively small share
of employment. For example,
biochemists and biophysicists
made up about 1.7 jobs per 1,000 in
Durham, compared with about 0.2
jobs per 1,000 in the United States
as a whole.
8.5
z The U.S. mean wage for
biochemists and biophysicists was
$86,580 per year. Among the areas
shown, wages ranged from $83,300
in San Francisco-San MateoRedwood County, CA, to $110,090
in Durham, NC.
6.5
Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division
8.0
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA Metropolitan Division
7.5
Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division
7.0
6.0
$80,000
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division
$85,000
$90,000
$95,000
$100,000
$105,000
Annual mean wage
Note: Bubble size illustrates employment size comparisons. NECTAs represent New England City and Town Areas.
$110,000
$115,000
STEM
Three of the areas with the highest concentrations of mechanical engineers
were in Michigan.
Figure 14
z The Warren-Troy-Farmington
Hills, MI, metropolitan division
had both the largest number of
mechanical engineering jobs—
14,680—and the highest location
quotient for this occupation.
z High concentrations of
mechanical engineers did not
necessarily translate into high
employment for this occupation.
Excluding Warren-Troy-Farmington
Hills, employment of mechanical
engineers in the areas shown
ranged from 740 in Niles-Benton
Harbor, MI, to 2,050 in GreenvilleMauldin-Easley, SC. In comparison,
the Los Angeles-Long BeachGlendale, CA, metropolitan division
had 5,770 mechanical engineering
jobs, although the location quotient
for this occupation was below 1 in
this area.
z Of the six areas shown in figure
14, only Warren-Troy-Farmington
Hills, MI, and Huntsville, AL,
had above-average wages for
mechanical engineers. Wages in
the remaining areas were below or
similar to the U.S. annual mean of
$82,480 for this occupation.
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of
mechanical engineers, May 2010
Location quotient
10.0
9.0
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division
8.0
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
$70,000
Huntsville, AL
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
$75,000
$80,000
$85,000
$90,000
$95,000
Annual mean wage
Note: Bubble size illustrates employment size comparisons.
19
STEM
Framingham, MA, had one of the highest concentrations of STEM occupations in May 2010.
Figure 15
z All of the occupations in figure
15, with the exception of biological
technicians, had higher wages in
Framingham than in the United
States as a whole.
STEM occupations with the highest location quotients
in Framingham, MA, May 2010
z There were 1.6 biochemists
and biophysicists per 1,000 jobs
in Framingham compared with
0.2 per 1,000 jobs in the nation.
Only Durham, NC, had a higher
concentration of biochemists and
biophysicists at 1.7 per 1,000 jobs.
Life scientists, all other
z Four of the occupations with
the highest location quotients
in Framingham were from the
life, physical, and social science
occupational group, which had
an overall location quotient of
2.3. However, the computer and
mathematical occupational group
had a higher location quotient at 3.0.
Occupation
Biological technicians
Software developers,
applications
Technical writers
Medical scientists, except
epidemiologists
Chemical engineers
Computer hardware engineers
Software developers, systems
software
Electro-mechanical technicians
Biochemists and biophysicists
0
1
2
3
4
5
Location quotient
20
6
7
8
9
10
Oc cupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
21
22
O ccupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
Healthcare
23
HEALTHCARE
Mean wages for selected health assistants varied more than mean wages for health aides.
Figure 16
z Wages for different types of
health assistants varied greatly,
with mean wages for occupational
therapy assistants ($51,300) more
than double the mean wages of
veterinary assistants and laboratory
animal caretakers ($23,660).
z Wages within occupations
also varied significantly for health
assistants. For example, the
10th percentile wage for physical
therapist assistants was $31,070
and the 90th percentile was
$68,820.
z Health assistants typically have
higher educational requirements
than health aides, a difference that
is reflected in their relative wages.
The median wage for occupational
therapy assistants was $23,580
more than that for occupational
therapy aides.
Wages for selected health assistants, May 2010
Annual mean wage
$80,000
—90th percentile
$70,000
—75th percentile
—Median
$60,000
Mean
$50,000
—25th percentile
—10th percentile
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
24
Veterinary assistants
and animal caretakers
Medical assistants
Dental assistants
Occupation
Physical therapist
assistants
Occupational therapy
assistants
HEALTHCARE
Figure 17
z Annual mean wages among
different types of health aides,
who generally work under close
supervision of a health professional,
did not diverge as much as among
different types of health assistants.
The mean wage for the highest
paying aide occupation shown,
occupational therapy aides, was
less than 50 percent more than the
mean wage for home health aides.
z Wages for an occupation vary by
industry and geographic location.
While wages for home health
aides were $21,760 on average,
mean wages ranged from $20,380
in individual and family services
to $34,970 in psychiatric and
substance abuse hospitals.
z Wages within an occupation
varied significantly for occupational
therapy aides. For example,
the 10th percentile wage for
occupational therapy aides was
$17,440 and the 90th percentile was
$52,750.
Wages for selected health aides, May 2010
Annual mean wage
$80,000
—90th percentile
$70,000
—75th percentile
—Median
$60,000
Mean
$50,000
—25th percentile
—10th percentile
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
Home health aides
Pharmacy aides
Physical therapist
Nursing aides,
Psychiatric aides
aides
orderlies, and attendants
Occupation
Occupational therapy
aides
25
HEALTHCARE
Healthcare occupations accounted for 66 percent of employment in general medical
and surgical hospitals.
Figure 18
z Registered nurses accounted
for 29.5 percent of all employment
in general medical and surgical
hospitals and accounted for more
employment than the industry’s next
nine largest occupations combined.
z The next two largest occupations
in general medical and surgical
hospitals were nursing aides,
orderlies, and attendants and licensed
practical and licensed vocational
nurses. However, nursing care
facilities employed more workers in
these two occupations than general
medical and surgical hospitals.
26
Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest
occupations in general medical and
surgical hospitals, May 2010
Percent of industry
employment
Employment
1,600,000
$32.99
40
Hourly mean wage
█ Employment
1,400,000
35
 Percent of industry
employment
1,200,000
30
1,000,000
25
800,000
20
z Non-healthcare occupations
accounted for 34 percent of hospital
employment and included maids
and housekeeping cleaners; general
office clerks; and interviewers,
except eligibility and loan.
600,000
15
z With the exception of nursing
aides, orderlies, and attendants,
whose mean wages were $12.87,
mean wages for the largest
healthcare occupations were higher
than those for the largest nonhealthcare occupations.
0
$12.87
400,000
200,000
10
$19.35
Registered
nurses
Nursing
aides,
orderlies,
and
attendants
$26.87
Licensed
Radiologic
practical
technologists
and licensed
and
vocational
technicians
nurses
$15.29
$11.13
Medical
Maids and
secretaries housekeeping
cleaners
Occupation
$47.87
Medical
and health
services
managers
$14.37
$27.55
$14.60
Office clerks, Medical and Interviewers,
general
clinical
except
laboratory
eligibility
technologists and loan
5
0
HEALTHCARE
Medical and diagnostic laboratories had 44 percent of its total industry
employment concentrated in its four largest occupations.
Figure 19
z Non-healthcare occupations,
such as couriers and messengers,
customer service representatives,
receptionists and information clerks,
and billing and posting clerks, made
up 45 percent of total industry
employment.
z Three of the 10 occupations
shown had hourly mean wages
above the average for all
occupations in this industry
($24.50): medical and clinical
laboratory technologists, radiologic
technologists and technicians, and
diagnostic medical sonographers.
z Among the largest occupations,
all other healthcare support
workers, including phlebotomists,
had a mean wage of $15.18 and
accounted for 12.3 percent of the
industry employment.
Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest
occupations in the medical and diagnostic
laboratories industry, May 2010
Percent of industry
employment
Employment
14
35,000
Hourly mean wage
30,000
25,000
12
█ Employment
 Percent of industry
$15.18
$17.42
20,000
employment
$27.31
10
8
$28.00
6
15,000
10,000
$12.88
4
$15.85
5,000
0
Healthcare Medical and
support
clinical
workers, all
laboratory
other, including technicians
phlebotomists
$15.49
Medical
Radiologic Couriers and
Customer
Medical
and clinical technologists messengers
service
secretaries
laboratory
and
representatives
technologists technicians
$13.45
$15.92
$29.88
Receptionists Billing and
Diagnostic
and
posting clerks
medical
information
sonographers
clerks
2
0
Occupation
27
HEALTHCARE
Mental health and substance abuse social workers made up 12 percent of employment in outpatient
mental health and substance abuse centers, but only 6 percent in residential mental health and
substance abuse facilities.
Figure 20
z Five of the largest occupations
found in both outpatient mental
health and substance abuse
centers and residential mental
health and substance abuse
facilities had larger annual mean
wages in the outpatient centers.
The annual mean wage was
$43,040 for all occupations in
outpatient mental health and
substance abuse centers and it
was $33,390 for residential mental
health and substance abuse
facilities.
z Community and social service
occupations, including mental
health and substance abuse
social workers, mental health
counselors, and substance
abuse and behavioral disorder
counselors, accounted for over
half of employment in outpatient
mental health and substance
abuse centers and over a third
of employment in residential
mental health and substance
abuse facilities. These industries
had similar shares of healthcare
practitioner occupations, the largest
of which was registered nurses.
28
Employment by occupational group in outpatient mental
health and substance abuse centers, May 2010
Other (8,210)
Business and financial operations occupations (2,800)
Personal care and service occupations (3,900)
Life, physical, and social science occupations (4,040)
Healthcare support occupations (5,470)
Management occupations (10,780)
Community and social
service occupations
(90,670)
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (19,010)
Office and administrative support occupations (29,960)
Largest occupations in outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers
Occupation
Employment
Percent of industry employment
Annual mean wage
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
21,720
12.4
$39,520
Mental health counselors
19,700
11.3
41,030
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
15,710
9.0
37,730
Social and human service assistants
13,970
8.0
27,120
Registered nurses
7,610
4.4
61,660
Office clerks, general
5,890
3.4
25,990
Child, family, and school social workers
5,110
2.9
37,220
Secretaries and administrative assistants,
except legal, medical, and executive
4,750
2.7
29,590
Medical and health services managers
4,180
2.4
81,140
Rehabilitation counselors
4,050
2.3
33,420
HEALTHCARE
Figure 21
z Total employment in residential
mental health and substance abuse
facilities was 186,970, similar
to the employment in outpatient
mental health and substance abuse
centers, which was 174,890.
z Residential mental health
and substance abuse facilities
employed at least five times as
many workers in personal care and
service occupations and healthcare
support occupations as outpatient
mental health and substance abuse
centers. In residential facilities, the
largest personal care and service
occupation was childcare workers
and the largest healthcare support
occupation was home health aides.
Employment by occupational group in residential mental
health and substance abuse facilities, May 2010
Other (15,460)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (3,860)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (5,640)
Management occupations (10,010)
Community and social
service occupations
(68,380)
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (14,120)
Office and administrative support occupations (14,410)
Personal care and service occupations (21,120)
Healthcare support occupations (33,940)
Largest occupations in residential mental health and substance abuse facilities
Occupation
Employment
Percent of industry employment
Annual mean wage
Home health aides
21,450
11.5
$21,840
Social and human service assistants
18,650
10.0
25,420
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
13,890
7.4
35,240
Mental health counselors
11,560
6.2
35,110
Childcare workers
10,890
5.8
24,140
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
10,490
5.6
35,750
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants
5,660
3.0
25,070
Psychiatric aides
4,980
2.7
23,160
Residential advisors
4,910
2.6
25,470
Rehabilitation counselors
4,730
2.5
30,190
29
HEALTHCARE
Non-healthcare related industries employed over 2 million healthcare workers, accounting for 22
percent of all healthcare practitioners and technical occupations and 12 percent of healthcare
support occupations.
Figure 22
z Government and retail trade
were the largest providers of
healthcare jobs outside of the
healthcare industry. In government,
the largest healthcare occupations
were registered nurses (152,150);
emergency medical technicians and
paramedics (66,790); and nursing
aides, orderlies, and attendants
(63,160). In retail trade, the largest
healthcare occupations were
pharmacy technicians (247,690),
pharmacists (175,260), and
pharmacy aides (44,730).
z Retail trade was one of the
largest non-healthcare employers
of healthcare practitioners and
technical occupations and the
fourth largest non-healthcare
employer of healthcare support
occupations.
z Within the administrative and
waste services sector, 84 percent
of healthcare workers were in
employment services, such as
employment placement agencies
and temporary help services.
Employment of selected healthcare workers in non-healthcare
related industries, May 2010
Employment
700,000


600,000
Healthcare practitioners and
technical occupations
138,980
500,000
54,720
400,000
300,000
200,000
38,340
463,840
462,460
0
Federal, state, and
local government
Retail trade
Excludes state and local government schools and hospitals

97,600
68,870
157,620
160,910
Administrative and
waste services
Professional, scientific,
and technical services
253,140
100,000
Educational services
Industry
30
Healthcare support occupations
HEALTHCARE
Many of the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas with the highest
concentration of medical transcriptionists were in the Midwest.
Figure 23
z Medical transcriptionists
accounted for less than 1 in 1,000
jobs nationally, but they accounted
for at least four times that share in
Rochester, MN; Bangor, ME; Rapid
City, SD; west-central Wisconsin;
and central South Dakota.
Location quotient of medical transcriptionists, by area, May 2010
z Wages for medical
transcriptionists were highest
in several high-paying states,
including California, Alaska, New
Jersey, Massachusetts, and the
Washington, DC, area.
z The Bethesda-FrederickGaithersburg, MD, metropolitan
division was one of the top paying
metropolitan areas with $51,230,
and Railbelt/Southwest Alaska
nonmetropolitan area was the top
paying nonmetropolitan area with
$43,680.
Location quotient
 0.22 – 0.68
 0.69 – 0.92
 0.93 – 1.17
 1.18 – 1.44
 1.45 – 1.81
 1.82 – 6.94
Note: Blank areas indicate data not available.
31
32
O ccupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
Construction
33
CONSTRUCTION
Most of the largest construction occupations were the construction trades occupations.
Figure 24
z The largest occupation,
construction laborers, had
the lowest wage among the
occupations shown.
Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest
construction occupations, May 2010
Employment
z The six occupations shown
accounted for over 63 percent of
employment in construction and
extraction occupations.
900,000
z Of the largest construction
occupations, the occupation with
the highest mean wage was firstline supervisors of construction and
extraction workers.
700,000
800,000
$16.15
600,000
Hourly mean wage
$21.10
500,000
$24.91
$29.93
400,000
$24.21
300,000
$21.55
200,000
100,000
0
34
Construction
laborers
Carpenters
Electricians
First-line supervisors
of construction
trades and extraction
workers
Occupation
Plumbers,
pipefitters, and
steamfitters
Operating engineers
and other
construction
equipment operators
CONSTRUCTION
The highest paid construction occupations were specialized construction trades
workers or their supervisors.
Figure 25
Construction occupations with the highest
mean wages, May 2010
z Construction and extraction
workers earned an average of
$21.09 in May 2010.
z Electricians was the largest highpaying construction occupation,
with more than half a million
workers. Pile driver operators was
the smallest of the high-paying
construction occupations, with only
4,230 workers.
z Three of the occupations in
figure 25 were also among the
largest construction occupations—
first-line supervisors of construction
trades and extraction workers;
electricians; and plumbers,
pipefitters, and steamfitters.
Mean wage
$40.00
$35.00
$30.00
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
$0
Elevator
installers and
repairers
First-line
supervisors
of construction
trades and
extraction
workers
Boilermakers
Construction
and building
inspectors
Pile-driver
operators
Occupation
Electricians
Plumbers, Brickmasons and
pipefitters, and blockmasons
steamfitters
35
CONSTRUCTION
Employment for the largest occupations in the building construction industry was distributed
differently between nonresidential and residential building construction.
Figure 26
z Construction occupations
accounted for 64 percent of
employment in residential building
construction and 62 percent of
employment in nonresidential
building construction.
z Carpenters made up almost half
of the employment for construction
occupations in residential building
construction, but accounted for
less than a third in nonresidential
building construction.
z First-line supervisors of
construction trades and extraction
workers and construction
managers were more prevalent in
nonresidential building construction,
accounting for about 4 percentage
points more of the employment for
construction occupations than in
residential building construction.
Employment of the largest occupations in the building
construction industry, May 2010
Employment
200,000
180,000


160,000
Residential building construction
Nonresidential building
construction
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
36
Carpenters
Construction
laborers
Construction Office clerks,
First-line
managers
general
supervisors
of construction
trades and
extraction
workers
Occupation
Secretaries and
Cost
administrative estimators
assistants,
except legal,
medical, and
executive
Bookkeeping,
accounting,
and auditing
clerks
CONSTRUCTION
Mean wages were consistently higher in nonresidential building construction than
residential building construction.
Figure 27
z The mean wage for construction
occupations was $19.55 in
residential building construction,
compared with $22.64 in
nonresidential building construction.
z Cost estimators had the largest
nominal difference in mean wages,
with a $4.74 spread between
nonresidential and residential
building construction.
z Carpenters had the largest
percent difference in mean wages
between nonresidential and
residential building construction at
17.6 percent.
Mean hourly wages of the largest occupations in the building
construction industry, May 2010
Mean wage
$50.00
$45.00


$40.00
Residential building construction
Nonresidential building
construction
$35.00
$30.00
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
$0
Carpenters
Construction
laborers
Construction
First-line
managers
supervisors
of construction
trades and
extraction
workers
Office clerks, Secretaries and
general
administrative
assistants,
except legal,
medical, and
executive
Occupation
Cost
estimators
Bookkeeping,
accounting,
and auditing
clerks
37
CONSTRUCTION
Employment decreased in 40 of the 46 construction occupations between May 2006 and May 2010.
Figure 28
z Four of the construction
occupations with the largest
percent decrease in employment
between May 2006 and May 2010
were different types of helpers of
construction trade workers.
z Overall, employment for
construction occupations decreased
25 percent between May 2006 and
May 2010.
z Employment for tapers and
carpenter helpers fell by over 50
percent. Employment declined by
22,400 for tapers and 57,290 for
carpenter helpers.
z With a 37 percent decrease in
employment, carpenters did not
have as large of a percent decrease
as the occupations shown, but did
have the largest overall decrease in
employment, declining by 365,580.
z Wages for the occupations
shown grew near the average
wage growth for construction
occupations. Wages for
construction occupations grew 11
percent between 2006 and 2010,
slightly lower than the average
occupational growth of 13 percent.
38
Construction occupations with the largest percent decrease
in employment between May 2006 and May 2010
Percent change
30.0


20.0
Percent change in employment
Percent change in mean wage
10.0
0
–10.0
–20.0
–30.0
–40.0
–50.0
–60.0
Tapers
Helpers—
carpenters
Helpers—
brickmasons,
blockmasons,
stonemasons,
and tile and
marble setters
Plasterers and
stucco masons
Occupation
Helpers—
painters,
paperhangers,
plasterers, and
stucco masons
Helpers,
construction
trades, all other
Terrazzo
workers and
finishers
CONSTRUCTION
The construction occupations that grew between May 2006 and May 2010 tended to be
smaller occupations and were not related to new building construction.
Figure 29
z Employment for septic tank
servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
increased from 22,090 in May 2006
to 24,350 in May 2010.
z Wage growth for most of the
occupations in figure 29 ranged
from 2.1 percent for mechanical
insulation workers to 16.6
percent for rail-track laying and
maintenance equipment operators.
Construction occupations with an increase in employment
between May 2006 and May 2010
Employment change
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Highway
maintenance
workers
Septic tank
servicers and
sewer pipe
cleaners
Rail-track laying
and maintenance
equipment
operators
Boilermakers
Occupation
Segmental
pavers
Insulation workers,
mechanical
39
CONSTRUCTION
Nevada had the largest percent decrease in employment of construction and extraction occupations from
May 2006 to May 2010, and also had the largest increase in mean wages for them.
Figure 30
z In Nevada, mean wages for
construction occupations had an
increase of 27.8% or an annual
average increase of 6.3 percent
from May 2006 to May 2010.
z California had the largest
absolute decrease in employment of
construction occupations between
May 2006 and May 2010, falling
from 815,510 to 485,120.
z Carpenter helpers was one of
the occupations with the largest
declines in employment in all 10 of
the states highlighted in figure 30.
States with the largest percent decrease in employment of
construction occupations from May 2006 to May 2010
Percent change
40.0


30.0
Percent change in employment
Percent change in mean wage
20.0
10.0
0
–10.0
–20.0
–30.0
–40.0
–50.0
–60.0
Nevada
Arizona
Florida
California
Delaware
State
40
Rhode
Island
Michigan
South
Carolina
Minnesota
Idaho
CONSTRUCTION
Two states—North Dakota and Wyoming—had an increase in employment of
construction occupations, attributable to increases in varying occupations.
Figure 31
z In North Dakota, two
occupations in particular
contributed to increased
employment of construction
occupations. Employment for
highway maintenance workers
increased over 65 percent. The
occupation with the largest absolute
increase in employment was firstline supervisors of construction
trades and extraction workers.
z Operating engineers and other
construction equipment operators
and electricians contributed to
the increase in employment for
Wyoming.
States with an increase in employment of construction
occupations from May 2006 to May 2010
Percent change
20


18
Percent change in employment
Percent change in wage
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Wyoming
North Dakota
State
41
CONSTRUCTION
Pascagoula, MS, had a larger share of its employment in construction occupations than any other
metropolitan area, with over three times the national average.
Figure 32
z The concentration of
employment for every construction
occupation in Pascagoula, MS,
was higher than the U.S. average,
with the exception of highway
maintenance workers.
z At $19.07, the mean wage
for construction occupations in
Pascagoula, MS, was below the
U.S. average of $21.09.
z Of the occupations in figure
32, only one occupation had a
higher-than-average mean wage:
helpers—pipelayers, plumbers,
pipefitters, and steamfitters.
Location quotients for construction occupations in
Pascagoula, MS, May 2010

Location quotient
25
20
15
10
5
0
Insulation
workers,
floor, ceiling,
and wall
Insulation
workers,
mechanical
Structural iron
and steel
workers
Pipelayers
Occupation
42
Hazardous
materials
removal workers
First-line
supervisors of
construction
trades and
extraction
workers
The location quotient is the ratio of the area's share of employment in an occupational group to the national average share.

Helpers—
pipelayers,
plumbers,
pipefitters, and
steamfitters
CONSTRUCTION
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA, had the highest mean wage ($30.13)
in May 2010 for construction and extraction workers.
Figure 33
z Carpenter helpers and floor
sanders and finishers in San
Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood
City earned almost twice the
national average wage for their
occupation.
z Most occupations with the
highest wage premiums were
construction trades occupations.
With the exception of carpenter
helpers, most helper occupations
had a below average premium.
z Although wages for construction
occupations were higher, on
average, in the San FranciscoSan Mateo-Redwood City, CA,
metropolitan division, employment
in construction occupations was
below average. Nationwide,
construction occupations
accounted for 4 percent of
employment, compared with 3
percent in San Francisco-San
Mateo-Redwood City.
Construction occupations in the San Francisco-San MateoRedwood City, CA, metropolitan division with mean wages
at least 55 percent higher than average, May 2010
Percent higher wage
than the nation
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Floor sanders
and finishers
Helpers—
carpenters
Sheet metal
workers
Highway
maintenance
workers
Occupation
Pipelayers
Paperhangers
Operating
engineers and
other construction
equipment
operators
43
44
O ccupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
Manufacturing
45
MANUFACTURING
The 10 largest occupations in manufacturing made up about 26 percent of the total
employment in the industry.
Figure 34
z Team assemblers was
the largest occupation in the
manufacturing industry, making up
6 percent of employment. Firstline supervisors of production and
operating workers had the second
highest employment, making up
3.5 percent.
z Team assemblers had an annual
mean wage of $30,620.
z Only 2 of the 10 largest
occupations had wages that were
above the national mean wage
($44,410). These two occupations,
sales representatives, wholesale
and manufacturing, except technical
and scientific products ($65,720)
and first-line supervisors of
production and operating workers
($56,140), were also not traditional
production occupations.
z Beyond the occupations
shown, the largest occupations in
manufacturing were production
workers or transportation and
material moving workers.
Employment and annual mean wages for the 10 largest
occupations in manufacturing, May 2010
Occupation
$30,620
Team assemblers
$56,140
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
$35,830
Machinists
$39,820
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
$27,750
Helpers-production workers
$25,140
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
$28,920
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing,
except technical and scientific products
$65,720
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
$35,490
Maintenance and repair workers, general
$41,720
0
46
Annual
mean
wage
200,000
400,000
Employment
600,000
800,000
MANUFACTURING
Overall, the highest paying production occupations in manufacturing were
mostly intermediary occupations, not those occupations handling raw
materials or final products.
Figure 35
z Production occupations made
up nearly 51 percent of the total
employment in the manufacturing
industry.
z Nine of the 14 highest paying
occupations together accounted for
just 2 percent of industry employment.
The largest of the higher paying
production occupations, first-line
supervisors of production and
operating workers, accounted for an
additional 3.5 percent of employment.
z Of these occupations, fabric and
apparel patternmakers; metal and
plastic model makers; and aircraft
structure, surfaces, rigging, and
systems assemblers had wages
that were below the manufacturing
industry annual mean wage
($45,680).
z Of the highest paying occupations,
five were related to power and energy
distribution, three occupations were
related to designing a tool or pattern,
and two occupations were related to
chemical processing. The remaining
four occupations were a supervisory
occupation, a production operator, an
assembler, and a tool programmer.
Highest paying production occupations in manufacturing, May 2010
Occupation
Petroleum pump system operators,
refinery operators, and gaugers
$62,380
Gas plant operators
$58,980
$56,950
Power distributors and dispatchers
First-line supervisors of production and
operating workers
$56,140
Power plant operators
$55,120
Chemical plant and system operators
$54,700
Stationary engineers and boiler operators
$48,760
Tool and die makers
$48,720
Computer numerically controlled machine tool
programmers, metal and plastic
$48,500
$47,120
Plant and system operators, all other
Chemical equipment operators and tenders
$45,890
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and
systems assemblers
$45,470
$44,080
Model makers, metal and plastic
$42,010
Fabric and apparel patternmakers
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
Annual mean wages
$50,000
$60,000
$70,000
47
MANUFACTURING
States with higher employment concentrations of team assemblers were in the Midwest and
South along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
Figure 36
zz Indiana had the highest location
quotient (2.8) for team assemblers.
A location quotient represents the
ratio of an occupation’s share of
area employment relative to its
share of national employment; a
location quotient greater than one
indicates that the occupation makes
up an above-average share of local
employment.
zz Although team assemblers was
the largest production occupation,
it made up 2 percent or less of the
total employment of any state.
zz In 16 states, team assemblers
accounted for at least 1 percent
of the total state employment.
Indiana had the highest percentage
of total state employment for
this occupation at 2 percent.
In contrast, Wyoming had the
lowest percentage of total state
employment at 0.1 percent.
48
Location quotient of team assemblers, by state, May 2010
WA
MT
OR
ID
WY
NV
UT
CA
AZ
ME
ND
WI
SD
IA
IL
KS
OK
NM
TX
Location quotient
 0.08 – 0.38
 0.41 – 0.52
 0.54 – 0.93
 0.96 – 1.29
 1.36 – 1.54
 1.73 – 2.75
Note: Blank areas indicate data not available.
NY
MI
NE
CO
VT
NH
MA
RI
CT
NJ
DE
MD
MN
IN
MO
PA
OH
KY
WV
VA
NC
TN
AR
SC
MS
AL
GA
LA
FL
AK
HI
MANUFACTURING
Team assemblers earned an annual mean wage of $29,220 nationally, but state
average wages ranged from $23,900 in Alaska to $36,120 in Alabama.
Figure 37
zz States with the highest
concentrations of this occupation
tended to have higher mean wages
for them. Eight out of nine states
with high concentrations had at
least an annual mean wage of
$29,800.
Annual mean wage of team assemblers, by state, May 2010
WA
zz States with above-average
concentrations and below-average
wages were often in the South,
including Arkansas, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, and Georgia.
MT
OR
ID
WY
NV
UT
CA
AZ
ME
ND
WI
SD
IA
IL
KS
OK
NM
TX
Annual mean wage
 $19,230 – $25,900
 $25,940 – $27,270
 $27,350 – $28,580
 $28,610 – $29,740
 $29,800 – $30,810
 $30,910 – $36,120
NY
MI
NE
CO
VT
NH
MA
RI
CT
NJ
DE
MD
MN
IN
MO
PA
OH
KY
WV
VA
NC
TN
AR
SC
MS
AL
GA
LA
FL
AK
HI
49
MANUFACTURING
With over 30 percent of its employment in production occupations, Elkhart-Goshen, IN, was the
area with the highest share of its employment in production occupations.
Figure 38
z Nationally, 6.5 percent of
employment was in production
occupations, giving production
occupations a location quotient of
4.7 in the Elkhart-Goshen area.
z The occupation with the highest
concentration relative to the U.S.
average in the Elkhart-Goshen
area was fiberglass laminators and
fabricators. It had a location quotient of
72, and accounted for over 1 percent
of the area’s employment (99,370).
z Furniture finishers had the
second highest location quotient, at
28, and accounted for 340 jobs.
z The 10 occupations with the
largest location quotients in ElkhartGoshen, IN, were all production
occupations. Of these, three
occupations were assemblers
and fabricators and another
three occupations were related to
woodworking.
z All of the occupations in figure 38
had wages below the hourly mean
wage for the metropolitan statistical
area ($17.75), except for transportation
equipment painters ($20.40).
50
Occupations with the largest location quotients in
Elkhart-Goshen, IN, May 2010
Occupation
Fiberglass laminators and fabricators
Furniture finishers
Woodworking machine setters,
operators, and tenders, except sawing
Upholsterers
Adhesive bonding machine operators
and tenders
Painters, transportation equipment
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine
setters, operators, and tenders
Team assemblers
Assemblers and fabricators, all other
Sawing machine setters, operators, and
tenders, wood
0
10
20
30
40
50
Location quotient
60
70
80
MANUFACTURING
Oc cupat i onal Empl oyment and Wages 2010
51
MANUFACTURING
The largest occupation in the textile mills industry was textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine
setters, operators, and tenders, which accounted for 15 percent of employment in the industry.
Figure 39
z The 10 largest occupations
in textile mills accounted for 57
percent of employment in this
industry. The second largest
occupation was textile knitting and
weaving machine setters, operators,
and tenders, which made up over
11 percent of industry employment.
z The two largest occupations
in the industry, textile winding,
twisting, and drawing out machine
setters, operators, and tenders and
textile knitting and weaving machine
setters, operators, and tenders,
were highly concentrated in the
Southeast region of the country,
particularly North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
z Of the 10 largest occupations,
the highest paying occupations
included first-line supervisors of
production and operating workers
($23.10) and 2 repair occupations,
industrial machinery mechanics
($17.42) and general maintenance
and repair workers ($17.25).
Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest
occupations in textile mills, May 2010
Occupation
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out
machine setters, operators, and tenders
$12.28
Textile knitting and weaving machine setters,
operators, and tenders
$12.98
Textile bleaching and dyeing machine
operators and tenders
$11.73
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and
weighers
$13.30
First-line supervisors of production and
operating workers
$23.10
Industrial machinery mechanics
$17.42
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators,
and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
$15.65
Helpers-production workers
$10.99
Maintenance and repair workers, general
$17.25
Laborers and freight, stock, and material
movers, hand
$11.51
0
52
Hourly
mean
wage
4,000
8,000
12,000
Employment
16,000
20,000
MANUFACTURING
The largest occupations in the chemical manufacturing industry were a mix of higher
and lower paying production occupations and chemists and chemical technicians.
Figure 40
z Four of the largest occupations
in the chemical manufacturing
industry were also among the
largest occupations in the textile
mills industry: first-line supervisors
of production and operating
workers; general maintenance
and repair workers; inspectors,
testers, sorters, samplers, and
weighers; and industrial machinery
mechanics. However, the hourly
mean wages were all higher for
these occupations in the chemical
manufacturing industry than in the
textile mills industry.
z The third largest occupation,
chemical plant and system
operators, was highly concentrated
along the Gulf Coast states.
Location quotients for this
occupation were highest in
Wyoming (6.7), Louisiana (6.5),
South Carolina (3.3), and Texas
(2.9). However, the highest paying
states included Montana ($32.56),
Wyoming ($30.58), Texas ($30.24),
and Washington ($29.55).
Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest
occupations in chemical manufacturing, May 2010
Occupation
Mixing and blending machine setters,
operators, and tenders
$16.63
Packaging and filling machine operators
and tenders
$14.03
$26.18
Chemical plant and system operators
Hourly
mean
wage
$22.09
Chemical equipment operators and tenders
First-line supervisors of production and
operating workers
$30.64
$34.60
Chemists
$22.77
Chemical technicians
Maintenance and repair workers, general
$22.05
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
$18.20
Industrial machinery mechanics
$24.38
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
Employment
40,000
50,000
60,000
53
U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics